Lung mechanics in growing guinea-pigs treated with growth hormone

Because growth hormone excess has been reported to accelerate lung growth in acromegalic men and in adult rats, effects of growth hormone were tested in prepuberal guinea-pigs. From week 2 to week 4, five guinea-pigs were injected daily with human growth hormone (0.1 mg/kg) and compared with five injected with saline. At week 4 lung mechanices were measured and the animals sacrificed. Growth hormone-injected guinea-pigs gained more weight than saline ones (P less than 0.01) and had heavier livers (P less than 0.01). However, no difference was observed between both groups for lung weight, volume or distensibility.